Green Mountain Cross, Day 1

Lacking Swandrome cross the previous week, I embarked on my 2008 cross campaign with the first Verge NECCS weekend in Williston, VT at Green Mtn Cross. Coming in, I had hopes of a top 15 placing, but I wasn't sure how my legs would react (first race in 2 months) or if my neck would even allow me to race. But I paid $70 in registration fees and we had a hotel booked...no turning back now.

When I got to the course on Saturday morning, I instantly recognized it as the place where St. Michael's College histed a cross country meet back when I was a freshman at Clarkson. This was good, because all I remember about that course was the hills. Sure enough, it delivered.

I tried to work the tubular glue off my front rim to no avail, so I was forced to run a clincher (mud2) in the front, and my Challenge Grifo in the rear. I was pretty bummed about this, since I was really happy with how the Grifos rolled...but not so happy with how the front rim made the bike shudder and squeal with any brake application. In any case, the course was dry enough that I could run a reasonable pressure without much fear of pinch flatting.

After call-ups, I was put in the third row...not terrible given how wide the opening stretch was, and the climb directly after. I could most likely slide up during the first climb.

My clip-in was pretty flawless and I weaved through a couple fumbling riders to get within the top 15 going into the "hole-shot" (because it wasn't really a hole-shot). I had to fight a bit for the good line, which was a 3" gravel hardpack in the middle of an otherwise soft grassy hillside...there was a good amount of bumping and grunting but I ended up in the path, which means I won. The next task was the navigate through the field on the uphill.

This would have been a lot harder if Colin Jaskiewicz hadn't crashed through a right hand turn at the top of the hill. Luckily I was far enough behind to navigate through the cursing mass of riders and pull in behind the train that was about to leave the station.

Four riders used this opportunity to get a gap on the field- led by Colin Reuter, who had great legs, despite his misgivings about this being a roadie/climber friendly course. I tried to make the catch before the downhill section, but I remained dangling off the pace. If I could limit my losses in the turning/downhill sections, I could probably bridge on the power intensive sections. Ok, no problem...right?

I spent the next lap clawing back 20-30m until I finally made contact. That was a pretty difficult catch. As I joined the front group, Colin called for some help at the front, since the other riders were wheelsucking pretty intensely. I explained that I just caught on and needed a quick rest. That lasted for about 10 seconds before I shot to the front on a difficult grind to the top of the course. Foolishly they let me by before the downhill! Ha!

Once at the front, I was pretty energized and somewhat nervous about being the one to set the pace. As we came into the downhill, there was a right turn which dumped us over a rock and into 180 left hand. I handled the first turn decent enough, but continued to pedal over the rock, causing my rear wheel to jump/flare out and making me look rather foolish. That didn't go unnoticed, since it came up in the post-race breakdown. For all my technical improvements, I still have some strides to make.

But here's a sweet picture that Colin sent, via some other photographer...



I led the group around for most of the next lap before swinging wide in a turn before the barriers and letting the others by (aka Colin took the lead again). I tagged onto the back as we came through the start finish. Richard Fries made sure to comment that I was apparently "barely hanging on" the train. For the most part we were safe from any big chases behind, but there were a couple of riders looking to make the bridge.

The next lap or so was relatively uneventful, except for the constant pace surges which were beginning to take their toll on me. Our first group got strung out a bit, with Colin and Tosca ahead. However, I was still in relative contact, and would plan on making efforts on sections where I could close the gaps back down...at least until the barriers came. I knew I had to make this one clean and hopefully close some more distance. As we came around the gentle left turn in, I threw my leg over, un-clipped, and proceeded to trip+slam my front wheel into the first barrier. This caused me to splay out between the barriers in a probably comical fashion, and the bike to follow suit. Luckily I hadn't hit the second barrier and my recovery was pretty quick. However, my confidence was fairly shaken.

Back on the bike, Colin and the eventual winner were well out of sight, and third place was probably 100m ahead. I looked back and didn't see anyone else. OK...safe for now.

Over the next lap I could feel my legs failing all too quickly. Normally you can last the final lap...except that each trip around was taking close to 10 minutes since the course was so damn long! As I came to the top of the hill I began to see a rider in pursuit behind...and Jeremy Dunn was behind him. In other words, I coulnd't cruise in, content with my fourth place. However, even though I felt like I was putting out some respectable power, the chase was closing in. I held off the fourth place rider until just before the barriers, where he took advantage of my failing body and hesitancy. However, Jeremy was just behind him. I had to last at least another 300m to the line.

And I did. As we came through the bushes I glanced back to see 5th place was safe, so I didn't need to kill my legs for a sprint. That's a good thing.

So yeah, fifth place in my first killer B's race, and my first race of 2008. Given that my legs aren't anywhere near ready to race yet, this has got to be a good sign.

The weekend.

Saturday I went up to Swan's place to help setup the course for Sunday's race. Thanks to ample course tape, I suspect it was the most legit Swandrome cross race to date. I was pretty excited to get my first race done, and hopefully shake the rust off before next weekend's Verge races in VT. Perhaps too excited...

After finishing the course, we did some hot laps with a small pack. As we entered one of the wooded sections, I flatted my front wheel on a small rocky section. I was going probably 15mph through a shallow turn at the time and could not steer the bike at all upon exiting. Next stop- the tree on the outside of the turn.

I hit it square on, cracking my helmet and injuring my neck. Expensive little flat.

I tried to wake up and race the next day, but lacking the ability to turn my head and the noticeable pain precluded any racing. Hopefully it clears up before the weekend. And hopefully I don't suck in VT because I haven't ridden in 4 days thanks to this and ample work to keep me inside. Ugh...

I offer nothing.

Ok, so I haven't written anything since I raced Wilmington-Whiteface. I started to write a post about the Off-Road Assault on Mt. Mitchell, but that became derailed somewhere. Rather than try to remember races from several months ago, I'm going to bring things up to date...

Following Whiteface, I did Fitchburg-Longsjo. I didn't quite have the time trial I wanted(36/111), and I didn't do super well on Mt Wachusett (15th place), but I finished 18th overall on GC in the cat2 field, which is ok by me. It was nice racing against only cat2's, and not being outrageously humbled by future pros (well, there are probably future pros in the cat2 field, but you know what I mean). I'd like to train more intelligently (maybe do intervals!?!?) and get at least a top 10 next year. If I'm smart about my early season, I think it's doable.

Thus ended my road season for 2008.

I followed up Fitchburg with ORAMM in North Carolina, did Tandem Track nationals with Steve, an open track day, and two ECCC track weekends, but have not officially raced my road bike since. Track had varied success- we raced faster than last year on the tandem, but still fell short of winning any races (and no one let us run away in the 5k scratch race). My first two track weekends, one after Tandem nationals and the other at Kissena, were nothing to speak of. I finally was able to muster some speed at the final track day at Trexlertown, where I placed in both the the points and scratch races. Allegedly my performance garnered me an on-site cat3 upgrade, but I have yet to see about that.

All in all, since Fitchburg, I have only done a few long rides, a bunch of fixed gear track rides, some time trials, and some low-key mountain biking. Here and there I threw in a Tuesday night race. I guess the point is that I was preparing to concentrate on cyclocross- I learned my lesson last year when I started CX totally burnt from summer racing, especially GMSR.

Then, last weekend I started racing again with the ECCC MTB season opener at Lehigh- again with varied success.

Saturday was the XC race. I naturally signed up for A's, since I they got cool plastic numbers and the other classes got paper. Also because I figured my fitness could carry me through whatever my bike handling couldn't. Since it had rained a little the previous day, the course was pretty slick, and the rock gardens were proving to be quite a mess for me to deal with. I lowered my pressure to ~38 psi...I figured that was reasonably soft enough to get traction, but not soft enough to cause pinch flats. More on that.

After the bottleneck saw the race leaders well up the trail, I settled into almost DFL with a couple other riders. Soon, we caught up to the field ahead as we went into a short climb and followed with some small rock gardens. I made a couple passes and settled back into the line. Unfortunately, since I couldn't see the line ahead, I plowed right into a couple sharp rocks which pinch flatted BOTH my wheels. Race over. I tried to fix them and continue on, but my mini-pump broke. I raced 1 mile of collegiate mountain biking and proceeded to walk a useless bike back to the start.

Sunday was the short track XC, which was held on a ~800m loop with 500m of climbing and 300m of a switchbacking descent. If there was ever a course made for me, this was it. I could reasonably manage my losses on the downhill and make my time on the up. And the race was only 35 minutes.

Right out of the start, someone fell in the middle of the field, causing a small pile-up, which I quickly navigated through. I looked ahead to see a small group of 5-6 riders up the trail. Beyond them, I couldn't see anyone. Either the first few guys really flew off the line, or I was actually near the front of the race. Over the next couple laps, I made up the gap and joined their group. While catching my breath, I settled in behind Vanya, who had avoided the earlier crash altogether.

Over the next few laps (before they started showing lap cards), I moved my way up, passing what I believed were the remaining leaders, including a rider who I saw got third on the previous day. This race was going pretty well by all accounts. I kind of thought I was winning, but I was not sure. At this point we began to lap some riders, so I really could not tell what was going on. I began to wonder if the 'officials' were paying attention and that I woulnd't get screwed in the confusion of riders being lapped everywhere. In any case, I kept pressure on the pedals.

Unfortunately, I probably gave too much too early, as I began to get caught by a UMass and UVM rider I had passed earlier. As I got more tired, my already limited ability to descend the hill began to get progressively worse. With 3 laps to go, I was passed and really didn't have the ability to respond. Oh well, I still am on the podium, right? I mean, I don't see any others ahead, and I haven't been passed/lapped myself...

As it turned out, I ended up 7th...apparently one lap down(?!?!). At least I guess that was the case, since they placed me behind a rider marked as being down a lap. I personally find this highly improbable, since I was only passed by two riders whom(who?...I don't care) I had previously passed. It's a good thing I don't care too much about my collegiate ranking, because otherwise I'd be a little more bitter about it. However, I'm feeling pretty positive about the race with cross around the corner.

This weekend is Swandrome cross, then next weekend is the official season opener in VT. I think I'll be able to stay on top of race reports now that the races are actually exciting...